Filling apparatus



Nov. 7, 1967 w. c. BELK 3,351,473

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILBER G.BELK BYW W ATTORNEY 1967 v w. c. BELK 3,351,473

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 M m b 107 106 104lNVENTdR WILBER G. BELK ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1967 w. c. BELK 3,351,473

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 208 2080. 211 2&2207 INVENTOR WILBER 0. BELK ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1967 W. C. BELK FILLINGAPPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 6, 1964 OF A 9 m Y m m 0. mm m 989 2 u A mm w 3 w m: mO- VG m: 9mm HHHWHMHH mm 0@ ma Nov. 7, 1967 w. c.BELK FILLING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 6, 1964 INVENTORWILBER C. BELK ATTORNIEY Nov. 7, 1967 W. c. BELK FILLING APPARATUS 8Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 6, 1964 INVENTOR WILBER C. BELK BY W ATTORNEYW. C. BELK Nov. 7, 1967 FILLI NG APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov.6, 1964 INVENTDR WILBER 6.. BELK BY W1 6':

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofilice 3,351,473 Patented Nov. 7, 19673,351,473 FILLING APPARATUS Wilber C. Belk, Lakeland, Fla, assignor toFMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov.6, 1964, Ser. No. 409,472 20 Claims. (Cl. 99-186) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An apparatus for filling cylindrical cans with crescentshapedgrapefruit segments comprising a feed belt to feed oriented segments toa filling station, three spaced rotating spools which support and spinthe cylindrical can located at the filling station, the spools beingelliptical in crosssection to vibrate the can while it is spinning, acombination guide and height-sensing switch to direct the segments intothe can and control the filling operation by being raised when thesegments fill-up the can, a rotating roller which presses the segmentsdownwardly in the can to compress the pack, and a penumatic-electriccontrol circuit.

This invention relates to the packing of products into containers andmore particularly to apparatus for filling containers with citrus fruitsections or the like.

Numerous obstacles have theretofore been encountered in automaticallypacking articles into cylindrical containers. Particularly, when packingcitrus fruit sections, which are are crescent shaped, have taperedcross-section, and are relatively fragile by nature, previous machinepacks have not achieved an orderly arrangement of the sections oruniform weight of the filled containers. By pack is meant an assemblageof sections within a filled container. If the sections are merelydropped into the container, the fragile sections will break and anon-uniform pack will result causing the containers to vary greatly inweight.

It is an object, therefore, of this invention to provide a pack ofcitrus fruit sections of substantially uniform weight and density in acylindrical container.

Another objection of this invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor filling a container with a plurality of crescent shaped articleshaving tapered crosssections. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a device forautomatically sequentialy filling a plurality of cylindrical containerswith crescent shaped articles having tapered cross-sections.

These and other objects and advantages will be more apparent from thefollowing description wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of part of a food processing line withwhich the filling apparatus of the present invention is employed.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevation, with parts broken away and partsin section, of a portion of the filling apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective of the filling apparatus and aportion of the machine associated therewith.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged plan of the container-stopping portion of thefilling apparatus, shown disconnected from the machine.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged horizontal section of another portion of thefilling apparatus taken generally along the lin 66 of FIG. 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged isometric of a portion of the container guard inthe filling apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged isometric of the container positioning portionof the filling apparatus, parts being broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged isometric schematic of the drive arrangementfor the filling apparatus and a portion of the drive arrangement for theprocessing line shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 11 is a schematic circuit diagram used for controlling theoperation of the filling apparatus.

FIGURES 12A and 12B are schematic sections showing solenoid actuated airvalves, FIG. 12A showing a valve in a normally closed position, FIG. 12Bshowing a valve in a normally open position.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged schematic perspective of a second embodiment ofthe filling appartus, with parts broken away.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged horizontal section taken generally along line14-14 of FIG. 13.

In general the filling appartus of the instant invention comprises anendless article supply belt 68, a filling unit 86 and acontainer-positioning unit 88. all of which are mounted on a supportstructure 10. Crescent-shaped articles are deposited on the belt in anysuitable manner, as by a diverter belt that is disposed transverselyover a feed belt 34 as seen in FIG. 10. The feed belt 34 is trainedaround an idler roller 36 and around a drive roller 38 that is drivenfrom a main drive shaft 44 by means of a countershaft 39, sprocket 40,chain 46, and sprocket 42. The diverter belt 50 is disposed around anidler pulley 54 and around a drive pulley 56 that is driven from mainshaft 44 through a shaft 60; a pulley 61, belt 62, and pulley 63. Thediverter belt 50 is arranged to intercept articles advancing on belt 34and transfer them to belt 68. The feed belt 34 and diverter belt 50' arepart of a conveying, spacing and orienting system that is disclosed inthe patent application of Thomas G. Cox et al., entitled ContainerFilling Machine, Ser. No. 409,529, which is assigned to the assigne ofthe present invention. It will be evident of course that articles may bemanually placed directly in suitably spaced relation on the belt 68 inthe desired oriented position by an operator. The belt 68 delivers thesections to the filling unit 86 where they are directed into a rapidlyspinning container C positioned beneath the filling unit by thecontainer positioning unit 88. When the container C is filled, thesupplying conveyor 68 is stopped, the filled container is replaced by anempty container, and the filling cycle repeated.

The articles are fed onto the supplying belt 68 with substantially allof them being positioned with their thin concave edges near the centerof the belt 68 and their thick edges toward the outer edge of the belt68 substantially as shown by section S in FIG. 3. Near the discharge endof belt 68, a slanted guide 84 (FIG. 2) that overlies the inner edge ofthe belt intercepts the sections and directs them toward a guide 82(FIG. 3) adjacent the outer edge. As best shown in FIG. 10, the belt 68is trained about a pair of idler rollers 69 and 70 and a driven roller71, respectively. A shaft 72 is journalled in the frame 10 and is fixedto the roller 71 at one end and to a sprocket 73 at its other end. Achain 75 is trained about the sprocket 73 and a second sprocket 74 whichis fixed to a main drive shaft 44.

The container filling unit 86 is mounted on the frame 10 adjacent thedischarge end of the supplying conveyor 68 and comprises a sensingmember or chute 90, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the shape of a wedgehaving a top wall 92, a bottom wall 93 and an upstanding side plate 94.The top wall 92 is bent as at 92a and provides a wall portion whichprevents sections from falling between the chute and the belt 68. Alever 97 is secured to plate 94 by capscrews 95 and is spaced therefromby spacers 96. The lever 97 has a rearwardly extending arm 97a that issetscrewed to a switch rod 99 pivotally journalled on the frame as seenin FIG. 6.

T The chute 90 is disposed almost entirely inside a container guard 102which, as seen in FIG. 7 is a generally cylindrical member having alarge part of one side wall cut away and having an arm 102a projectinggenerally tangentially to the main cylindrical portion of the guard.Referring to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the lowermost one of thespacers 96 abuts the upper edge of the tangential arm 102a. Accordingly,when the guard 102 is 'moved upwardly, the arm 102a engages the spacerand pivots the chute 90 upwardly.

The cylindrical container guard 102 has laterally projecting tabs thatare welded to a pair of vertical bars 103 that are secured to hubs 103amounted for vertical reciprocal movement on a pair of guide rods 104(FIGS. 2 and S). The guide rods 104 are fixed at their upper ends 'to ahorizontal plate 105 which is mounted on two spaced, longitudinallyextending channels 111 and 111a (FIG. 3) 'of the frame 10 by bolts 107(FIG. 2) which clamp two vertical transverse plates 111k between theplate 105 and the longitudinal channels 111 and 111a. Vertical movementof the cylindrical container guard 102 is provided by any conventionaldouble acting pneumatic power cylinder or actuator 106 which isenergized by solenoid controlled air valves and is identical to all ofthe double acting pneumatic actuators hereinafter referred to. Ingeneral, each actuator includes a piston slidably mounted in 'a cylinderand having a piston rod projecting outwardly of the cylinder. A solenoidactuated air valve admits high pressure air to one end of the cylinderwhile the other end of the cylinder is vented. The pneumatic actuator106 associated with the cylindrical guard 102 is secured by capscrews tothe underside of the support plate 105, with its piston rod 108 fastenedat its lower end to a hub 109 that carries two rigid horizontal supportstraps 110. As seen in FIG. 5, the straps 110 are also secured to thehubs 103a so that when air under pressure is directed to the cylinder106, the can guard will be raised or lowered depending upon which end ofthe cylinder receives the air.

The switch rod 99 which, as aforementioned, is rotatably journalled inthe frame 10, has a rotary contact 99a (FIGS. 2 and 6) setscrewedthereto at the opposite side of the belt 68 from the point of attachmentof lever arm 97a. A cam 9% which is made of insulating materialissecured in coaxial relation to the rotary contact 99a. The cam 99b hasa lobe 990 which is arranged to engage a leaf spring contact member 100to raise it away from the rotary contact member 99a or to permit themember 100 to move down into contact with the periphery of themember99a. The leaf spring contact member 100 is mounted on an insulated block112 that is secured to a support lever 112a which has an end portionrotatably supported on the rod 99. A spring 11% urges the lever 112a ina counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2) to hold the block 112 against anadjustable stop screw 112a.

A cylindrical support shaft 113 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is rotatably journalledin a horizontal tube 114 fixed to the outside of the container guard102. A support strap 116 is fixed at one end to the shaft and at itsother end to a rotary presser mechanism 118. The presser mechanism 118comprises a shaft 120 journalled in a tube 122 mounted in fixed positionon the strap 116 and fastened at its upper end to a small electric motor124 and at its lower end to a frusto-conical-presser roller 126. Thelowermost surface of the roller is maintained in a horizontal plane whenin its operative position. As is best seen in FIG. 3, a small spring 128is fastened to the presser mechanism 118 and to the channel 111 to helpsupport the roller 126 in its horizontal position since the weight ofthe pressing mechanism 118 tends to pivot it downwardly about thelongitudinal axis of the horizontal support shaft 113. The size andstrength of the spring 128 is dependent upon the amount of pressure tobe applied by the roller. A stopscrew 130 is adjustably threaded into aboss 131 (FIG. 2) integral with the container guard 102 and provides astop to arrest the downward pivotable ".ovement of the roller 126. Byadjusting the stopscrew 130, the roller 126 can be extended into theopen top of the container guard 102 a desired amount. When a container Cis positioned beneath the container guard 102, a switch, later to bedescribed, energizes a circuit to operate a solenoid valve and energizethe pneumatic actuator 106, causing the container guide 102 to belowered and allowing the chute 90 to pivot downwardly into the openupper end of the container C as shown in FIG. 2. The roller 126 alsomoves downwardly until the lowermost surface of the roller 126 liesslightly below the top of the container C at the side of the containerguide 102 opposite to the chute 90 as seen in FIG. 3. Grapefruitsections S, which are discharged from the filler conveyor 68 at a rateof approximately feet per minute, strike the upper surface 92 of thewedge shaped chute 90 and are guided into engagement with the innercylindrical wall of the rotating container C. Substantially all of thesections are orientated such that their thick edges abut the wall of thecontainer.

The container positioning unit 88 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 8) is disposed justbelow the filling unit 86 and comprises a horizontal container carryingchain 136. continuously driven in a direction normal to the direction oftravel of the delivery belt 68. In the embodiment shown, the chain 136is trained about a plurality of idler sprockets 138, only one shown,(FIG. 10) and a drive sprocket 140 mounted on a rotary shaft 142. Asprocket 144 is also keyed to shaft 142, said sprocket being connectedto a sprocket 145 mounted on the shaft of a motor 146 by a chain 147.The container conveying chain 136 is mounted at one end in an intakeguide track 150 (FIG. 3) which includes a pair of side walls 152 thatassure proper alignment of the containers C on the container carryingchain 136 as they approach the filling station directly below the guard102. Fastened to the side walls 152 of the intake guide track 150 in theiimmediate vicinity of the filling unit 86 are two parallel horizontalguide rods 154 which are spaced apart the same distance as walls 152 andassure proper alignment of the containers C on the carrying chain 136through the area beneath the filling unit 86. The horizontal guide rodsare fastened at their other ends in a like manner to two side walls 156of a discharge guide track 158 similar to the intake guide track 150 toassure proper alignment of the containers C on the carrying chain 136after being filled at the filling station.

A chain support bar 160 (FIGS. 5 and 8) is pivotably connected at oneend to the frame 10 by a horizontal pin 160a. A post 162 projectsdownwardly from the chain support bar 160 near its free end, and afreely rotatable roller 164 is mounted on the lower end of the post 162.The roller 164 rests on a leg 16611 of an L-shaped cam support lever 166which has a hub 1661) pivotably mounted on a pivot post 168 which isfastened to the frame 10 beneath the discharge guide track 158. The leg166a rests on a horizontal bearing strip 170 also fastened to the frame10. A link 172 is pivotally fastened to the cam support lever 166approximately midway between its ends and is fastened to a double actingpneumatic actuator 174 (FIG. 3) fastened to the frame 10. The actuator174 is operated by solenoid controlled air valve which will be describedpresently. A cam plate 176 is mounted on the upper surface of the leg166a of the support lever 166 in alignment with the roller 164supporting the chain support bar 160. Energization of the pneumaticactuator 174 to swing the lever 166 clockwise (FIG. 15) brings the camplate 176 into engagement with the support roller 164 and swings thechain support bar 160 upward to raise the chain to its containercarrying position. Conversely, when the pneumatic actuator 174 moves theL-shaped cam support lever 166 counterclockwise, the cam plate 176 movesout of engagement with the support roller 164, lowering the chainsupport bar 160 into a position in which the carrying chain 136 is belowits normal container-supporting position. As will appear presently, thischain lowering action takes place when the container arrives at thefilling station so that it is no longer moved forwardly by thecontinuously moving chain.

A spool-carrying arm 178, which is disposed above lever 166 and also hasa hub 178a mounted on the pivot post 168 for pivotable movement in ahorizontal plane, is supported at its free end by a roller 180journalled in a block 181 fastened to the free end of the arm 178. Theroller 180 rolls along the upper surface of the L-shaped cam supportlever 166 and the arm 178 is biased to pivot in a counterclockwisedirection by a spring 182 that is fastened to a peg 183 on the camsupport lever 166. Intermediate its length, the lever 166 is providedwith a stopscrew 184 that is mounted on an angle tab block 186 which isfastened to the inner edge of the lever 166. The stopscrew 184 lies inthe same plane as the spool-carrying arm 178 so that clockwise pivotingof the cam support lever 166 will bring the stopscrew 184 intoengagement with the spool-carrying a-rm 178 causing both to movesimultaneously in a clockwise direction. A pair of rotary can-spinnerspools 188 are journalled on posts 190a (FIG. 9) projecting upwardlyfrom plates 190 fixed on the upper surface of the spool-carrying arm 178and a toothed pulley 189 is secured concentrically on each spool. Athird rotary spool 192, which carries a toothed pulley 193, is rotatablyjournalled on a similar, fixed upstanding post. The two spools 188 (FIG.5) are circular in cross-section and form the corners of the base of atriangle (when viewed from above) while the spool 192 is elliptical inhorizontal cross-section and is positioned at the apex of the triangle.The spools are circumscribed by traction sleeves 194 which provide ahighly frictional surface for engaging the outer cylindrical surface ofthe cylindrical container C. The cam plate 176 and the stopscrew 184mounted on the L-shaped cam support lever 166 are adjusted so that, whena container is carried by the chain to a position directly under thecontainer guard 102, and the support lever 166 is pivotedcounterclockwise (FIG. 8), the cam plate 176 will become disengaged fromthe support roller 164, lowering the chain support bar 160, while thetwo outer spools 188 move inwardly toward the empty container C due tothe biasing action of the spring 182. The L-shaped cam support lever 166continues to swing inwardly, disengaging the stopscrew 184 from thespool-carrying arm 178 and leaving the spools 188 firmly biased by thespring 182 against the container C. The arrangement is such that thechain 136 is lowered, immediately after the spinner spools move intoengagement with the container.

The spools 188 have annular grooves 188a adjacent a beveled edge 18812,and spool 189 has a groove 192a adjacent a beveled edge 192E). The edges188b and 19212 provide container contacting surfaces which are slightlyabove the level of the conveyor chain to aid in lifting the containerfrom the container carrying chain 136, since the biasing of the twoouter spools 188 against the container forces the chime of the containeragainst the inner spool 192 to cause the can to move upward on thebeveled edges. When the chime has risen to the top of the beveled edge,it fits snugly within the grooves 188a and 192a in the spools with thewall of the container firmly held by the sleeves 194 on the spools. Theengagement of the chime of the can in the grooves 188a and 192a preventsthe can from moving upward during spinning. It should be noted that,whereas the embodiment described shows the two spools 188 moveable toengage the container C and force it against the single stationary spool194, a single spool could be moveably positioned to engage the containerand force it against two stationary spools. Since the stop bar 205 stopsthe container C at a point such that the center of the container lies ona line which is perpendicular to the base line of the triangle formed bythe three spools, it is immaterial whether a single spool is movedinwardly by the spool support bar 178 or a pair of spools are movedinwardly as in the embodiment shown.

Empty containers C enter the filling station one at a time and in timedrelation. This movement of the cans from the intake guide track iscontrolled by a gate member 196 (FIG. 3) that is pivotably mounted on apost 197 for horizontal movement above the can carrymg chain 136. Thegate member 196 is a generally flat member and is provided with acontainer stopping arm 198 that is arranged to halt a row of containerscarried by the continuously moving container carrying chain 136.Adjacent the container stopping arm 198 is a first curved extension 200which has a concave surface of a radius slightly larger than the radiusof the container. Adjacent the first curved extension 200 is a secondcurved extension 202 having a convex surface of a radius much greaterthan the first. A connecting link 204 is connected at one end to thegate member 196 near the container stopping arm 198 and is connected atits other end to a double acting pneumatic actuator 203 (of the typepreviously described) connected to the frame 10'. The pneumatic actuator203 is energized by solenoid controlled air valves. Thus, when the firstempty container engages the container stopping anm 198, the row of emptycontainers following the first container in abutting relation are haltedwith the container carrying chain 136 sliding under the containers. Whenthe pneumatic actuator 203 retracts the link 204 and swings thecontainer stopping arm 198 counterclockwise (FIG. 3), the first curvedextension 200 is also swung counterclockwise, engaging the first emptycontainer and causing the corner surface of the second curved extension202 to abut the empty container next in line and prevents it from beingadvanced. Further pivotal movement of the gate member 196 completelyretracts the container stopping arm 198, freeing the trapped containerand permitting it to move with the container carrying chain 136 towardthe container filling unit 86 while the second curved extension 202halts the remaining row of containers. Reversing the direction ofmovement of the link 2204 withdraws the second curved extension 202 fromits engagement with the row of containers and permits the firstcontainer in the row to move into abutment with the container stoppingar-m 198.

The container C released from the row is carried by the containercarrying chain 136 toward a position under the cylindrical can guard 102until it engages against a stop bar 205 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which, at thistime projects outwardly over the endless chain 136 in the path ofmovement of the can. The stop bar 205 (FIG. 4) is mounted on a block205a that is pivotally supported between set-collars on a cylindricalpost 206 projecting upwardly from a fixed plate 207. The piston rod 208aof a double acting pneumatic power cylinder 208 is con-' nected by auniversal joint 209 to a link 211 that is pivoted to a lever 212projecting from the block 205a. When the piston rod 208a is movedinwardly of the cylinder 208, the stop bar 205 is swung:counterclockwise (FIG. 5) to its can-intercepting position of FIG. 5;when the piston rod 208a is moved out of the cylinder, the stop bar isswung clockwise permitting the arrested can to advance on the chain.

A switch control rod 210' (FIG. 5) is mounted on a block 213 that iskeyed to a shaft 214 journalled in a support block 215 (FIG. 5) securedto the stop bar 205. The control rod 210 has an end portion 2102: (FIG.5) that projects over the path of the oncoming can and is so positionedthat it is engaged by the can before the can engages the stop bar. Theshaft 214 has a rotary cam 216 keyed thereto, said cam having a lobe216a adapted to hold a contact strip 217 in spaced relation above theperiphery of a rotary contact 218 that is mounted on the shaft 214. Theshaft 214 is connected to ground through a conductor 219 and the contactstrip 217, which is mounted on the stop bar 205 has a conductor, notshown, connected thereto. The stop bar 205 is made of any conventionalnon'conducting material so that the strip 217 is insulated from themachine. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that, when a can engagesthe end 210a of the control rod 210, it swings the shaft 214counterclockwise, permitting the can to move into engagement with thestop bar and causing the rotary cam 216 to allow the contact strip 217to lower into engagement with the periphery of the rotary contact 218.The closing of these contacts starts a control operation which will bedescribed presently.

All three spinner spools (FIG. 10) are driven by a timing belt 221 whichis trained about a toothed drive pulley 222 mounted on a rotatable,vertical shaft 223a and around the spool pulleys 189 and 193. The shaft223a is mounted in a gear box 223 fastened to the frame of the machine,the gears of which are driven by a drive chain 224 that is trainedaround a sprocket 225 and around a second drive sprocket 226 mounted onthe shaft 142 driven by the motor 146. Since the amount of frictionbetween the articles being fed into a container and the container wallvaries depending on the article being handled and the material of thecontainer, the rotational speed required will also vary depending uponthe article being handled. The rotational speed must be such that thecentrifugal force acting on the article which is imparted by therotating container will result in a frictional resistance force betweenthe article and the wall of the container which will be slightly lessthan the gravitational force acting on the article thus causing thearticle to slide down the container wall. The embodiment shown is forfilling grapefruit sections into a No. 301 tin container, which has anoutside diameter of approximately 3 inches. This embodiment is shown forillustrative purposes only, if being understood that the principle ofthe invention is also applicable for other articles and different sizecontainers made of different materials. Accordingly, the chain drive tothe gear box 223 can be modified as desired to obtain the desired speedof rotation of the spools. The spools in the embodiment shown arerotated at a rate of approximately 420 r.p.m. The resultant containerrotation is approximately 140 r.p.m., which was found to be the speedrequired to have a grapefruit section slowly slide down the wall of thetin container, and the lateral shake due to the elliptical shape of theinner spool 192 results in the container being shaken or vibrated at afrequency of approximately 840 vibrations per minute.

Further drive arrangements, as best shown schemat ically in FIG. 10 showthe supplying belt 68, the transfer belt 50, and feed belt 34 beingdriven from the main shaft 44 through an electromagnetic slip clutch 228which has a driven element attached to the shaft 44 and a drive elementattached to a large tubular shaft 220. The shaft 229 is driven through abelt and pulley mechanism 230 by a shaft 231 which, in turn, is driventhrough a belt and pulley device 232 by an electric motor 233.Accordingly, while the spool drive and the drive for thecontainer-carrying chain 136 are operated continuously, the drive to thearticle supply belt 68, the feed belt 34, and the transfer belt 50 maybe halted by virtue of the electromagnetic clutch 228. As mentionedabove, the container-carrying chain 136, the spools, and the drive tothe electromagnetic clutch are started and remain continously drivenduring normal operations.

Referring to the control diagram of FIG. 11, it will be noted that sevensolenoid-operated, air flow control valves SVO-SV6 are shown. Valve SV1in line A of the diagram is associated with the air conduit to one endof the pneumatic actuator of power cylinder 203 that actuates the gate196, valve SVS in line being connected in the conduit leading to theother end of the cylinder 203. Valve SVO in line B controls the flow ofair from a conduit 235 connected to a source of air under pressure to asupply conduit 236 that is connected to each of the valves SV1-SV6.Valve SV2 in line G is connected in a conduit leading to one end of thepower cylinder 208 associated with the can stop bar 205, valve SVS inline 0 being connected in the conduit leading to the other end of thecylinder 208. Valve SV3 in line M is connected in the air conduitleading to one end of power cylinder 174 which controls the cam supportlever 166, valve SV6 in line P being connected in the conduit leading tothe other end of the cylinder 174. Valve SV4 in line N is connected inthe conduit leading to one end of cylinder 106 that raises and lowersthe container guard 102, valve SV6 in line P being connected in theconduit leading to the other end of cylinder 106.

Each of the valves SVl-SV6 is of the type, shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B,in which a solenoid is effective when energized to shift the spool ofthe valve toward the left to a position communicating the conduit thatdirects air to the associated power cylinder with either a ventconnection or with a conduit 236a that is connected to the supplyconduit 236 connected to the master valve SVO.

In referring to the valves in the control diagram, the term normallyclosed will be used to refer to a valve which has its inlet and ventconnections located as shown in FIG. 12A which illustrates a normallyclosed valve. When the solenoid is in a normal or de-energizedcondition, the conduit leading to the power cylinder communicatesthrough a slanted passage in a valve element V with a vent connection.When the solenoid is energized, the valve element V is shifted to theleft to communicate the power cylinder conduit with one of the supplyconduits 236a.

A normally open valve is shown in FIG. 12B and it will be noted that itdiffers from a normally closed valve only in that the vent connectionand the air supply conduit 236a are reversed. Thus, when the solenoid isin a normal, de-energized condition, the power cylinder communicatesthrough the valve element V with the air supply conduit 236a and, whenthe solenoid is energized, the power cylinder is vented.

In the control diagram of FIG. 11 conductors L1L4 are connected to asource of electric power in such a manner that a circuit between L1 andL3 will be subjected to 23 volt AC current and a circuit between L2 andL4 carries volt AC current. To begin a cycle of operation a selectorswitch 244 is turned to ON position to close contacts in the lines L3and L4, and a valve (not shown) is opened to direct air under pressureto the master air valve SVO. The normally closed, solenoidoperated airvalve SV1 in line A is energized through conductors 248 and 252,whereupon the valve is opened and air is directed through conduit 250 toone end of power cylinder 203. Since the other end is vented through SVSin line 0, the piston is moved in a direction to rotate the gate member196 and retract the container stopping arm 198, releasing one containerwhile the remainder are halted by the second curved extension 202.Simultaneously therewith, the rotary presser motor 124 in line C isstarted through circuit 251, 253 for continuous operation. Also, throughcircuit 254 and 256, the normally closed main air valve SVO in line E isopened to supply air to the other valves SVl-SV6 including: the normallyopen valve SV2 in line G which energizes the pneumatic actuator 208 toswing the stop bar 205 and switch rod 210 over the container-carryingchain 136 to a container stopping position; the normally open valve SV3in line M which energized the pneumatic actuator 174 which retracts thecam support lever 166 to raise the chain carrying bar and moves thespool-carrying bar 178 away from the filling unit 86; and the normallyopen valve 5V4 in line N which energizes the pneumatic actuator 106 toraise the cylindrical guard 102, the rotary presser 118, and the sensingmember or chute 90. Hence an empty container C is free to travel on thecarrying chain 136 to a position beneath the cylindrical guard 102. Atthis time, the contact points 99a and 100- in line 274, 286, 288 and274, 286,

V that are associated with the sensing member or chute 98 are alsoopened.

When an empty container C reaches the filling station beneathcylindrical guard 102, it moves into engagement with the stop bar 205,while actuating the switch rod 210 to cause the contact points 217 and218 in line T to close and simultaneously start the followingoperations: the time delay relay 1R in line S is energized through the24 volt circuit 268, 270, 271 closing relay contacts 1R-1 in line T and1R-3 in line Q; the clutch 228 in line U is energized through thecircuit 255, 259, 261 to start the operation of the article supply belt68, the feed belt 34, and the orientator belt 50; and the fourpole relay2R in line Q is energized through circuit 260 and 263. The four-polerelay 2R in line Q being energized, the contacts 2R-1 in line G. 2R-2 inline L, 2R-3 in line K, and 2R4 in line S are closed and the followingsimultaneous operations occur: the solenoids of the normally open valvesSV2 (line G), 5V3 (line M), and SV4 (line N) are energized throughcircuits 274, 282, 284; 290, respectively, and the valves are closed;also, the solenoids of the normally closed valves SVS (line and 8V6(line P) are energized to open through circuits 274, 276, 280 and 274,276, 278, respectively, and these valves are opened. Opening of valveSV6 causes the pneumatic actuator 174 to move the cam support arm 166inwardly, permitting the spring-biased spool-carrying bar 178 to movethe beveled spools 188 under the container and lift it off the chain 136and lower the chain. With the valve SV4 now closed and valve SV6 open,air also energizes the pneumatic actuator 106, lowering the cylindricalguard 102, the rotary presser roller 126,and the chute 90 into anoperative position. When the chute 90 is lowered, the contacts 99a and100 are closed and set up a holding circuit through the circuit 268,270, 292, 271 to keep relay 1R energized. Since valve SV2 is now closedor vented and valve SV is opened, air is directed through conduit 295 tothe pneumatic actuator 208 to retract the stop bar 205 and the switchrod 210 carried by bar 205 to a position parallel to the containercarrying chain 136,

and air is directed through conduit 297 to the pneumatic actuator 203for rotating the gate member 196 and returning the container stoppingarm 198 to its operative position permitting the row of empty containersto move into engagement therewith. Retraction of the switch rod 210opens the contacts 217 and 218; however, since the holding circuitthrough contacts 99a and 100 is still closed, the relay 1R remainsenergized.

Simultaneously with the preceding operation, the twopole relay 3R inline I is energized through circuit 2'74, 282, 299 and the followingoperations occur: contact SR-1 in line A is opened, breaking the circuit248, 252 to the solenoid of valve 8V1, and valve 8V1 returns to itsnormally closed position, permitting the pneumatic actuator 203 to bemoved by air admitted through conduit 297 and valve SV5, as mentionedabove; contact 3R-2 in line H is closed and the circuit 274, 300, 302,

.282, 299 forms a holding circuit for the two-pole relay 3R throughnormally closed contacts of a reset switch 298 which, as seen in FIGURE3, has an actuator rod 298a disposed in the path of movement of a cantoward .the can discharge section 158.

The container C is now being filled with grapefruit sections S leavingthe supply 68 at a velocity of approximately 140 feet per minute and areguided by the chute 90 against the inside cylindrical wall of theshaking and rotating container C where the orientated sections slowlyslide downward in a pack with their thick edges adjacent .the containerWall. Smaller pieces and unorientated sections do not remain against thewall since they tend to topple to the center of the container due totheir thin edges losing contact with the spinning wall. In other words,since thin sections or broken pieces are unorientated, they strike thecontainer wall in random positions,

such as, at'the points of their crescent shaped thin edges, and fall tothe center, of the container.

As the container is filled, the sections build up and raise the sensingmember or chute 90. When the chute is raised it pivots the rod 99 (FIG.2) and at a predetermined level opens the contact points 99a and 100(line T). This breaks the holding circuit 268, 270, 292, 271 and therebydeenergizes the time delay relay 1R. The time delay relay 1R may be ofany commercial type, for example, the type manufactured by theAllen-Bradley Company, Milwaukee, Wis., Mod. BX, having an Off-Delaywith one set of auxiliary points. The set of contacts 1R-3 in line Q aredelayed-action contacts that are closed after the /2 second delay, theother set of contacts 1R-1 in line T is not -delayed-action contact andit acts immediately upon energization or de-energization of relay 1R.

Once the time delay relay IR is de-energized the following simultaneousoperations occur on the non-time relay side; contacts 1R-1 in line T areopened and the circuit 255, 259, 261 is broken and the rectifier 304 andelectromagnetic clutch 228 are de-energized, disengaging the clutch 228to stop the orientator belt 50, the feed belt 34 and the supply belt 68.For the duration of a pre-set time delay, approximately equal to thetime for one rotation of the container or /2 second, the contacts 1R-3-remain closed, relay 2R remains energized, and the filled container C isheld at the filling station for further pressing with the presser roller126. At the end of the delay period, contacts 1R-3 open and relay 2R isde-energized, permitting the filled container to be carried away fromthe filling station.

The time delay contacts 1R-3 of relay 1R are effective to prevent thecontainer from being carried out of the machine before it is filled, aswhen one section S extends higher than any of the others, in a partiallyfilled container, and lifts the chute 90 to open the contacts 99a and100. Since this one section will pass out from under the chute and allowthe contacts 99a and 100 to close before the /2 second time delay, thecontainer will not he discharged and the filling process will continueuntil the sections S in a properly filled container again raise thesensing chute and re-open the limit switch points: 990 and 100. When thechute 90 is raised to a desired elevation, as for example, the elevationshown in phantom lines in FIG- URE 2 and held there for the one fullrotation of the container (in other words, after the preset delay periodhas expired), the contacts 1R-3 are also opened and the circuit 260, 263is broken, de-energizing the four-pole relay 2R and the followingsimultaneous operations occur: the contacts 2R-2 in line L are openedand the circuit 274, 276, 280 is broken, the solenoid of valve SVS isde-energized and the valve returns to its normally closed position;circuit 274, 276, 278 is also broken and the solenoid of valve SV6 isde-energized and the valve returns to its normally closed position; thecontacts 2R-3 in line K are opened and the circuit 274, 286, 288 isbroken to de-energize the solenoid of valve S V3 and return the valve toits normally open position. Air is fed to the pneumatic actuator 174 toretract the spool carrying arm 178 and the cam support lever 166, andlift the container carrying chain 136 causing the filled container C tobe moved toward the discharge guide track 158 and the reset switch rod298a; the circuit 274, 286, 290 also is broken and the solenoid of valveSV4 is de-energized to return it to its normally open poistion. Air isfed thus to the pneumatic actuator 106 to raise the cylindricalcontainer guard 102, the presser roller 126, and the chute 90. Thecontacts 2R-1 are opened and the circuit 274, 282, 299 is broken, butthe solenoid of valve SV2 remains energized through the circuit 274,300, 302, 282, 284 and the stop bar 210 and contacts 217 and 218 remainin retracted position. The circuit 248, 252 remains broken due to theholding circuit 274, 300, 302, 299 holding the relay 3R energized tokeep contacts 3R-1 open, thus, valve SVI remains in the normally closedposition, and the pneumatic actuator 203 l 1 keeps the gate 196 in itsextended position with the arm 198 stopping the row of containers.

When the filled container, now travelling toward the discharge guidetrack, 158 deflects rod 298a and actuates the reset switch 298 thefollowing simultaneous operations occur: the holding circuit 274, 300,302, 282, 299 is broken and the two-pole relay SR is de-energized; withrelay 3R de-energized contacts 3R-1 in line A are closed to close thecircuit 248, 252, and energize the solenoid of valve SV1, whereby air isadmitted to pneumatic actuator 203 to retract the gate 196 and releaseanother container; the circuit 274, 300, 302, 282, 284 is broken, thesolenoid of valve SV-2 is de-energized, and the valve SVZ returns to itsnormally open position. The pneumatic actuator 208 is energized toextend the stop arm 205 and the switch rod 210 again into the path ofthe oncoming empty container. Thus the processing line is again startedon another filling cycle.

A modified form of the filling apparatus is shown in FIGURES l3 and 14.Generally the apparatus is identical to the embodiment previouslydescribed except that the container C is positioned in an off-setposition to receive sections tangentially admitted into the containerfrom the supplying belt 68 and certain other elements have been slightlychanged. The tangential admission of the sections into the container isaccomplished by guiding the sections along a line tangent to thecontainer wall. A deflector plate 300 is mounted on the frame closelyconfronting the upper surface of the supplying belt 68 and is angled soas to contact the thick edge of the citrus fruit sections and divert thesections toward the center of the belt 68. The contanier guard 102 ismounted for reciprocating movement in a vertical plane in a positionoff-set from the center line of the supplying belt 68 and is otherwiseidentical to the previously described embodiment. A modified sensingmember or chute 302 having a bottom wall 304 and an upstanding side wall306 is disposed almost entirely in the guard 102 and is pivotablymounted for movement into the container C a distance such that the lowertip of the bottom wall 304 is approximately inch below the upper edge ofthe container. The bottom wall is bent as at 304a to provide a surfacewhich prevents articles from falling between the chute 302 and the belt68, and a lower end 30401 that is bent to conform to the inner surfaceof the wall of the container and is twisted so that its surface isinclined downwardly and inwardly toward the center of the container. Thesidewall 306 has secured thereto by capscrews 308, a lever 310 spacedfrom the Wall 306 by spacers 312. The lever 310 has a rearwardlyextending arm 31011 that is setscrewed to a switch rod 314 pivotablyjournalled on the frame 10.

The switch rod 314 which, as aforementioned, is rotatably journalled inthe frame 10, extends away from the belt 68 and is also journalled in anupstanding plate 316 mounted on the frame 10. A block 318 is setscrewedto the end of the rod 314 farthest from the belt 68 and has a shaft 320fixed thereto which extends rearwardly therefrom. A small weight 322 isslidably mounted on the shaft 320 which tends to pivot the rod 314 andblock 318 in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, the weight 322 servesto partially offset the weight of the chute 302 and makes the chutesensitive to upward pressure causing it to readily pivot the'rod 314 inthe frame 10. Also, fastened to the top of the block 318 is a cam arm324 which extends forwardly of the block 318 and supports a cam followerroller 326 journalled to one end of an actuator 328. The actuator 328 ispivotably mounted at its opposite end in a switch 330 which houses apair of contacts. The actuator 328 is fastened to one of said contactsin a manner such that pivotable movement of the block 318 in acounterclockwise direction will cause the cam follower to roll on thecam arm 324 and cause the actuator 328 to pivot upwardly and close thecontacts in the switch 330. Thus, when the chute 302 pivots downwardlyinto the container, the contacts in the switch 330 are allowed to closewhereas upward movement of the chute 302 will open the contacts.Adjustment of the contacts to open and close at a predetermined positionof the chute 302 in the container is provided by the setscrew mountingof the block 310 to the rod 314. Thus, by releasing the block 318, thechute 302 can be raised to a predetermined position without rotating theblock 318. When the position is reached the block is again securelyfastened to the rod 314 whereby further upward movement of the chute 302will open the contacts. Closing of the contacts in the switch 330 startsa control operation identical to the operation in the embodimentpreviously described.

Since the container guard 102 and its associated structure is off-setwith respect to the center of the supplying belt 68, the containerpositioning unit 88 is likewise offset an equal amount. The containerpositioning unit 88 is identical to the previously described embodimentwith the exception of a modified switch 340 and a modified bar 341. Theswitch 340 has a switch control rod 342 pinned thereto at one end andhas an end portion 342a that projects over the path of the oncomingcontainer and is so positioned that it is engaged by the containerbefore the container engages the stop bar 341. When the containerengages the end 342a of the rod 342, it closes a pair of contacts in theswitch 340 and starts a control operation identical to the operation inthe embodiment previously described.

The main advantage in the modified apparatus is in the manner ofadmitting sections S into the container C. As best shown in FIG. 14, asection S travels on the belt 68 and is deflected by the plate 300toward the center of the belt. Since most of the sections on the belt 68are in an orientated position, only the thick edges of these sectionswill engage the deflector plate 300.

As the deflector plate 300 is disposed along a line which is tangent tothe container, the sections deflected by the plate 300 are dischargedfrom the belt 68 and admitted tangentially into the container. Thetangential admission assists in guiding the sections against the insidecylindrical wall of the spinning container wherein the section slowlyslides downwardly in the container in the same manner as was describedin the previous embodiment.

From the foregoing description it should be apparent that the inventionprovides an advantageous apparatus for effectively filling a cylindricalcontainer with a plurality of articles and is particularly adapted forplacing crescent shaped fruit sections in a container in an orderlymanner whereby a pack is formed of substantially uniform density withvery little breakage or damage to the sections. Although the machine hasbeen described for use with citrus fruit sections, it should be notedthat the principles embodied in the invention are equally applicable forfilling containers with a variety of other objects, particularly thosehaving crescent shapes defined by convex and concave surfaces.

It will be evident, of course, that the present filling machine can beeffectively used with the article orientating mechanism which isdisclosed in the above-mentioned Cox et al. application and includes thefeed belt 34 and the diverter belt 50. Although said orientatingmechanism is not disclosed completely herein, it should be understoodthat reference may be had to said application for a complete disclosureof the orientating mechanism and that said disclosure is incorporated byreference herein.

While a preferred apparatus for carrying out the invention has beenshown and described, it will be understood that it is capable ofmodification and variation while still operating according to theprinciples of the invention. It is to be understood, therefore, that thescope of the invention should be limited only by the scope and properinterpretation of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, that which is believed to be newand for which protection by Letters Patent is desired is:

1. A method for filling containers with food products comprising thesteps of supplying a row of spaced food products, feeding said productsinto a container and against the inside cylindrical wall of thecontainer, and while so feeding rotating said container at a speed suchthat the centrifugal force acting on said products results in africtional resistance force between the products and the container wallwhich is just less than the gravitational force acting on the productsso that the products slowly slide down the wall of the container.

2. A method for filling containers with a plurality of citrus sectionshaving crescent shapes defined by convex and concave edges comprisingthe steps of supplying said sections in a spaced row with substantiallyall of said convex edges orientated in the same positions and at apredetermined linear velocity, guiding said sections into a cylindricalcontainer with the convex edges of said sections abutting the concaveinside wall of said container, and rotating said container at a speedsuch that the linear velocity of the container wall is approximatelyequal to said linear velocity of said sections.

3. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality ofcrescent-shaped articles having convex and concave edges comprisingmeans for supplying said articles at a predetermined velocity, means forpositioning a cylindrical container for receiving the articles, meansfor guiding the articles into the container with said convex edgesabutting against the inside wall of the container, and means forrotating the container at a speed such that the centrifugal forceapplied to the articles by the rotation of the container results in africtional resistance between the articles and the container wall whichis slightly less than the gravitational force applied to the articles sothat the articles slowly slide down the container wall. 4. Apparatus forfilling a cylindrical container with a plurality of citrus fruitsections having convex edges comprising means for supplying saidsections in a single row and in spaced relation at a predeterminedvelocity with substantially all of said sections having their convexedgesorientated in the same positions, means for positioning acylindrical container for receiving said sections, means for guiding thesections'into the container with their convex edges abuttng the insidewall of the container, and means for rotating the container at a speedwhich results in the wall of the container having a tangential velocityequal to the predetermined velocity of the sections leaving saidsupplying means.

5. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a pluralityof'fruit sections having crescent shapes defined by convex and concaveedges comprising means for supplying said articles in a single spacedrow, means for positioning a cylindrical container for receiving saidarticles, means for guiding said articles into said container with saidconvex edges abutting the inside wall of said container, and means forrotating said container at a speed which results in a linear velocity atthe periphery of the container of approximately 140 feet per minute.

6. Apparatus for filling a container with a plurality of food productscomprising means for supplying said products at a predetermined speed,means for guiding said products into said container and against theinside wall thereof, means for rotating said container at a speed suchthat the centrifugal force imparted to the products by the rotatingcontainer results in a frictional resistance force between .thecontainer wall and the product which is just less than the gravitationalforce acting on said products, and wherein the peripheral speed of thecontainer is approximately equal to the predetermined speed of saidproducts leaving said supplying means.

7. Apparatus for filling containers with a plurality of food products,means for supplying said food products, means for guiding said foodproducts into a cylindrical container, means for rotating saidcontainer, a sensing device arranged to be actuated when said productsreach a predetermined height in said container, and means for removingsaid container responsive to said sensing device after a delay equal tothe time required to rotate said container substantially one revolution.

3. Containerfilling apparatus comprising means for positioning acontainer at a filling station, drive means movable into and out ofrotating engagement with the container at the filling station, actuatingmeans for moving said drive means, a sensing device projecting into thecontainer at the filling station and arranged to be raised in thecontainer to a cut-off position by articles in the container, and acontrol circuit for said actuating means and having contacts responsiveto movement of said sens ing device to said cut-01f position andincluding a time delay means for moving said drive means out of rotatingengagement with the container when a predetermined interval has elapsedafter said sensing device reaches cutofl? position.

9. In container filling apparatus, a conveyor for'positioning acontainer at a filling station, rotatable spinner members at saidstation, some of said spinner members being disposed on one side of saidconveyor and the remainder of said members being mounted on the otherside of the conveyor, each spinner having a container support surfaceadapted to be moved to a. position underlying a container at saidfilling station, means for effecting relative movement between thespinner members on opposite sides of said conveyor to move said membersinto container supporting relation with the container on said conveyor,and means for rotating said spinner members.

10. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality ofarticles comprising means for supplying articles at a predeterminedvelocity, means for positioning a cylindrical container for receivingsaid articles, means for guiding said articles against the inner wall ofsaid container, means for rotating said container at a speed whereby thearticles slowly slide down the con tainer wall, sensing means arrangedto be actuated when said articles reach a predetermined height, andmeans responsive to said sensing means for stopping said supply meanswhen said articles reach said height.

11. Apparatus for filling a container with a plurality of food productscomprising means for supplying said products in a single row and inspaced relation, a filling unit positioned for receiving said productsand for guiding said products into a cylindrical container, said fillingunit including a chute positioned for guiding said products against theinside wall of said container, a roller positioned within said containerfor compacting said products within said container, and a containerpositioning unit for supporting and for rotating said container whilesaid products are guided into said container.

12. Apparatus for filling a series of containers with a plurality ofarticles comprising means for supplying a plurality of articles in a rowand in spaced relation; means for sequentially positioning a series ofcylindrical containers to be filled into positions for receiving thearticles; means for guiding the articles against the inside cylindricalwalls of the containers to be filled; means for rotating the containersat a speed such that the articles slide slowly down the cylindricalwall; switch means arranged to be actuated by a container positioned atsaid article receiving position; said supplying means, said guidingmeans, and said positioning means being actuated for operation inresponse to said switching means.

13. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality ofarticles having crescent shapes defined by convex and concave surfacescomprising means for supplying the articles in a spaced row and at apredetermined velocity, means for positioning a cylindrical containerfor receiving said articles, means for guiding articles into thecontainer with the convex surfaces abutting the inside wall of thecontainer, means for rapidly rotating said container at a speed suchthat the articles are held against said container wall and permitted toslowly 15 slide down the container wall, and means for shaking saidcontainer.

14. In container filling apparatus, a conveyor chain having a containersupport surface, means mounting said chain for movement from a containersupporting elevation to a lower elevation, a plurality of rotatablespinner members having container support surface adapted to underlie andsupport a container and having container rotating surfaces adapted toengage the side surface of a container to rotate the container incidentto rotation of said spinner members, means mounting at least one of saidspinner members for movement between a projected position in supportingand rotating engagement with a container on said chain and a retractedposition, power means for sequentially moving said spinner member tosaid projected position and moving said chain to said lower elevation,and means for rotating said spinner members.

15. Container filling apparatus comprising a conveyor chain having acontainer support surface, means mounting said chain for movement from acontainer supporting elevation to a lower elevation, container supportmeans having support surfaces movable from a retracted position spacedfrom said chain to a projected position adjacent said chain and insupporting relation to a container on said chain, and power means forsequentially moving said support means to said projected position andmoving said chain to said lower elevation whereby the container issupported solely by said container support means.

16. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality offood products comprising means for supplying said products in a singlespaced row, a filling unit positioned for receiving said products andfor guiding said products into a plurality of cylindrical containers, acontainer-positioning unit for sequentially feeding each of a pluralityof containers from an abutting row of containers, saidcontainer-positioning unit including a container-carrying chainsupporting said containers and mounted for movement beneath said fillingunit, a gate member positioned for pivotal movement over said chain intoand out of a position abutting said row for sequentially releasing saidcontainers, a first air powered mechanism for moving said gate member, astop bar moveable into and out of a position over said chain forintercepting a container released by said gate member in a position forfilling, a second air powered mechanism for moving said stop bar intoand out of said intercepting position, a plurality of spools positionedfor pivotal movement into and out of engagement with said container forsupporting said container when in said filling position, means forrotating said spools when in said container supporting position, a thirdair powered mechanism for pivoting said spools into and out of saidcontainer supporting position, and a control circuit for operating saidair powered mechanisms in a manner such that said containers are movedinto said filling position and removed therefrom when filled.

17. In container filling apparatus, a support structure, a conveyorchain mounted for movement in a horizontal path, a track in supportingrelation to said chain at a filling station, means mounting said trackfor movement from a raised position holding said chain at apredetermined elevation and a lowered position, a first spinner membermounted on one side of said chain, a plurality of moveable spinnermembers mounted on the opposite side of said chain, each of saidspinners having a container support surface adapted to underlie andsupport a container on said chain and a frictional drive surfacearranged to drivingly engage the side surface of the container, a firstlever supporting said plurality of moveable spinner members, a secondlever pivotally mounted on said structure, power means for moving saidsecond lever from a retracted to a projected position, spring meansconnected between said first and second levers and operable duringmovement of said second lever to projected position for pivoting saidfirst lever in a direction to move said moveable spinner members intosupporting and driving engagement with a container, cam meansoperatively connected between said second lever and said chain track tolower said track to said lowered position as said second lever moves toprojected position and subsequent to the engagement of the container bysaid moveable spinner members, and means for rotating said spinnermembers.

18. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality ofarticles comprising means for supplying a plurality of spaced articlesin a single row and at a predetermined velocity, means for positioning acylindrical container for receiving the articles, means for guiding eacharticle against the inside cylindrical wall of the container as it isfed into the container, and means for rotating the container at a speedsuch that the centrifugal force applied to each article by the rotationof the container results in a frictional resistance between the articleand the container wall which is slightly less than the gravitationalforce applied to the article so that the article slowly slides down thecontainer wall.

19. In a container filling device having a conveyor for supplying aplurality of citrus fruit sections and a filling unit for guiding thesections into engagement with the inside surface of a Spinningcylindrical container, the improvement comprising means for continuouslyrotating and shaking the cylindrical container including first rotatablespool means having a toothed pulley mounted thereto, second rotatablespool means having toothed pulleys mounted thereto, a timing beltoperatively connected to said pulleys for continuously driving saidspools, and means for alternately moving said spools into a containerengaging position or into a container releasing position while saidspools are being continuously driven by said timing belt.

20. In a container filling device having a conveyor for supplying aplurality of citrus fruit sections and a filling unit for guiding thesections into engagement with the inside surface of a cylindricalcontainer, the improvement comprising means for rotating and shaking thecylindrical container including a first rotatable spool having anelliptical horizontal cross-section, a pair of rotatable spools havingcircular horizontal cross-sections, toothed pulleys mounted on saidspools, a belt connected to said pulleys and to a drive means forcontinuously driving said spools, and means for biasing said spools intoa container-engaging position wherein said container is simultaneouslyrotated and vibrated by said driven spools.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,775,268 12/1956 Eckart 141-168X 3,119,215 11/1964 Polk 53-239 X TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

1. A METHOD FOR FILING CONTAINERS WITH FOOD PRODUCTS COMPRISING THESTEPS OF SUPPLYING A ROW OF SPACED FOOD PRODUCTS, FEEDING SAID PRODUCTSINTO A CONTAINER AND AGAINST THE INSIDE CYLINDRICAL WALL OF THECONTAINER, AND WHILE SO FEEDING ROTATING SAID CONTAINER AT A SPEED SUCHTHAT THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE ACTING ON SAID PRODUCTS RESULTS IN AFRICTIONAL RESISTANCE FORCE BETWEEN THE PRODUCTS AND